Use of Computer Experiments to Study the Current Collected by Cylindrical Langmuir Probes

A particle-in-cell simulation has been developed to study the behaviour of ions in the surroundings of a negatively biased cylindrical Langmuir probe. Here, we report our findings on the transition between radial and orbital behaviour observed by means of the aforementioned code. The influence of the ion to electron temperature ratio on the transition for different dimensionless probe radius is discussed. Two different behaviours have been found for small and large probe radii

Hypoxic exposure as a means of increasing sporting performance: fact or fiction?

Las crecientes exigencias del deporte de élite han propiciado la continua investigación de diversos métodos para aumentar el rendimiento deportivo de los deportistas. Uno de los que más se ha hablado en los últimos años, especialmente en los deportes de resistencia, es el entrenamiento en altitud o exposición hipóxica. No obstante, a pesar de la popularidad que ha cobrado entre atletas y entrenadores de todo el mundo, existe una gran controversia sobre sus supuestas bondades. De esta forma, el objetivo de esta revisión es tratar de clarificar el papel de la exposición hipóxica en el aumento del rendimiento deportivo, analizando las distintas metodologías, herramientas e investigaciones al respecto. Se concluye que la exposición hipóxica carece en la actualidad de suficientes evidencias científicas que validen su efectividad, pues los resultados de la literatura son contradictorios.The increasing demands of elite sports have led to continuing research into various methods for improving the sporting performance of their participants. One of the most widely discussed in the past few years, especially in the field of endurance sports, is altitude training, or hypoxic exposure. However, despite its increasing popularity amongst athletes and coaches worldwide, a great deal of controversy remains regarding its supposed benefits. As such, the aim of this review was to attempt to clarify the role of hypoxic exposure on improved sporting performance by analysing the various methodologies, tools and research available. The key conclusion is that hypoxic exposure currently lacks sufficient scientific evidence to validate its efficacy as literature results tend to be contradictory

Tile decoration with greener technologies: spray pyrolysis and solution combustion synthesis for alternative colorations

Ponència presentada al V Congreso Hispano-Luso y LVI Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio, Barcelona, 8-10 October 2018The great concern about environmental impacts of different industries if forcing the research in more nature-friendly processes. In the case of ceramic tiles manufacture, decoration stage consumes pigments or frits for special effects whose manufacture requires great amounts of energy. Our group has investigated alternative ways to obtain pigments and decorative effects

Present-day and early heat flows and the thermal evolution of Mars

Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Interpenetrated Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks based on 1H-Indazole-5-carboxylic Acid

Herein we report the formation and characterization of two novel Zn-based multifunctional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on 1H-indazole-5-carboxylic acid and bipyridine-like linkers, synthesized by soft solvothermal routes. These materials possess isoreticular 2-fold interpenetrated three-dimensional structures that afford a flexible character and allow porosity modulation of the MOFs as confirmed by CO2 sorption measurements. Apart from this attractive structural feature, the MOFs exhibit fascinating luminescent properties involving both luminescence thermometry and long-lasting phosphorescence

Prototyping of petalets for the Phase-II Upgrade of the silicon strip tracking detector of the ATLAS Experiment

In the high luminosity era of the Large Hadron Collider, the HL-LHC, the instantaneous luminosity is expected to reach unprecedented values, resulting in about 200 proton-proton interactions in a typical bunch crossing. To cope with the resultant increase in occupancy, bandwidth and radiation damage, the ATLAS Inner Detector will be replaced by an all-silicon system, the Inner Tracker (ITk). The ITk consists of a silicon pixel and a strip detector and exploits the concept of modularity. Prototyping and testing of various strip detector components has been carried out. This paper presents the developments and results obtained with reduced-size structures equivalent to those foreseen to be used in the forward region of the silicon strip detector. Referred to as petalets, these structures are built around a composite sandwich with embedded cooling pipes and electrical tapes for routing the signals and power. Detector modules built using electronic flex boards and silicon strip sensors are glued on both the front and back side surfaces of the carbon structure. Details are given on the assembly, testing and evaluation of several petalets. Measurement results of both mechanical and electrical quantities are shown. Moreover, an outlook is given for improved prototyping plans for large structures.Comment: 22 pages for submission for Journal of Instrumentatio

A serum microRNA signature associated with complete remission and progression after autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma

We have examined serum microRNA expression in multiple myeloma (MM) patients at diagnosis and at complete response (CR) after autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT), in patients with stable monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, and in healthy controls. MicroRNAs were first profiled using TaqMan Human MicroRNA Arrays. Differentially expressed microRNAs were then validated by individual TaqMan MicroRNA assays and correlated with CR and progression-free survival (PFS) after ASCT. Supervised analysis identified a differentially expressed 14-microRNA signature. The differential expression of miR-16 (P = 0.028), miR-17 (P = 0.016), miR-19b (P = 0.009), miR-20a (P = 0.017) and miR-660 (P = 0.048) at diagnosis and CR was then confirmed by individual assays. In addition, high levels of miR-25 were related to the presence of oligoclonal bands (P = 0.002). Longer PFS after ASCT was observed in patients with high levels of miR-19b (6 vs. 1.8 years; P < 0.001) or miR-331 (8.6 vs. 2.9 years; P = 0.001). Low expression of both miR-19b and miR-331 in combination was a marker of shorter PFS (HR 5.3; P = 0.033). We have identified a serum microRNA signature with potential as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in MM

Thermographic measurement of canopy temperature is a useful tool for predicting water deficit effects on fruit weight in citrus trees

[EN] Alternative and more practical methods for plant water stress detection than stem water potential (ψs) and stomatal conductance (gs) are needed when regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies are applied. The aim of this experiment was to compare sap flow and canopy temperature (Tc) measurements with more classical methods like ψs or gs to predict the effect of deficit irrigation on fresh fruit weight in citrus trees. The experiment was performed during the summer of 2011 in a “Clementina de Nules” orchard undergoing RDI. Sap flow was determined by means of the compensation heat pulse method in well-watered and RDI trees. Tc was measured continuously with infrared thermometers (IRTs) mounted over the canopies and also weekly with an infrared hand-operated thermographic camera taking frontal images of the sunlit side of tree crowns. Concurrently, ψs and gs were also measured on all trees. Results showed that the evolution of the relative transpiration obtained with the sap flow sensors was in agreement with the plant water stress experienced. The values of Tc obtained with the fixed IRTs, normalized by air temperature (Tc − Ta) were in general poorly related with ψs and gs. However, when Tc was obtained from thermal imaging, there was a good correlation with ψs in days of relatively high water stress (i.e. when ψs differences among treatments were >1.0 MPa). The average fruit weight at harvest was significantly correlated with all the stress indicators, and the best correlation was that of thermographic Tc followed by ψs and gs. Overall, results showed that in citrus trees Tc measurement obtained from thermal imaging is a good tool to predict the effect of water deficit on fresh fruit weight.The authors thank H. Hernandez and T. Yeves for their help with the field work. This experiment has been funded by the RIDECO-CONSOLIDER CSD2006-00067 and Telerieg Interreg IV Sudoe projects. C. Ballester was holder of a predoctoral fellowship FPI-INIA-CCAA. D.S. Intrigliolo acknowledges the financial support received from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) program "Ramon y Cajal".Ballester, C.; Castel, J.; Jiménez Bello, MÁ.; Castel Sánchez, JR.; Intrigliolo Molina, DS. (2013). Thermographic measurement of canopy temperature is a useful tool for predicting water deficit effects on fruit weight in citrus trees. Agricultural Water Management. 122:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2013.02.005S1612

The Châtelperronian Neanderthals of Cova Foradada (Calafell, Spain) used imperial eagle phalanges for symbolic purposes

Evidence for the symbolic behavior of Neanderthals in the use of personal ornaments is relatively scarce. Among the few ornaments documented, eagle talons, which were presumably used as pendants, are the most frequently recorded. This phenomenon appears concentrated in a specific area of southern Europe during a span of 80 thousand years. Here, we present the analysis of one eagle pedal phalange recovered from the Châtelperronian layer of Foradada Cave (Spain). Our research broadens the known geographical and temporal range of this symbolic behavior, providing the first documentation of its use among the Iberian populations, as well as of its oldest use in the peninsula. The recurrent appearance of large raptor talons throughout the Middle Paleolithic time frame, including their presence among the last Neanderthal populations, raises the question of the survival of some cultural elements of the Middle Paleolithic into the transitional Middle to Upper Paleolithic assemblages and beyond